Title
Socioecological predictors of health profiles in western lowland gorillas
Author(s)
Cooksey, K. E.;Sanz, C.;Massamba, J. M.;Ebombi, T. F.;Teberd, P.;Magema, E.;Abea, G.;Mbebout, G.;Peralejo, J. S. O.;Kienast, I.;et al.
Published
2020
Publisher
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Abstract
Socioecological factors are linked to health outcomes, overall health profiles, and disease transmission in primates. Due to their close phylogenetic relatedness to humans, great apes are particularly susceptible to anthropogenic disease infection. Infectious diseases have been documented in wild gorilla populations that have manifested varying patterns of disease prevalence potentially attributable to differences in social groupings and patterns of intergroup contact. We assessed a suite of potential socioecological predictors of health incidences across four groups of western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the northern Republic of Congo. A total 17,951 observational health assessments were conducted during daily follows in the Goualougo and Djeke Triangles from August 2015 to July 2019. While overall presence of disease was relatively low, we detected several respiratory episodes and chronic health issues within the focal population. We observed an average of 9.81 incidences/month (2.6% of total observation days) for respiratory illness and an average of 21.29 incidences/month (5.7% of total observation days) for other incidences associated with declining health profiles across all groups. We suggest there is a correlation between the presence of respiratory illness with other indications of altered health profiles. Based on the observed dynamics of disease spread, we discuss probable mechanisms of transmission within and between groups. Further, we suggest that identification of the specific predictors and modes of disease transmission can be used to mitigate some specific health risks. Recommendations for best practices and management protocols are presented as they relate to improving health profiles in gorillas.
Keywords
Anthropology;Evolutionary Biology
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